Several of the campers at the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin (MIV) Summer Camp jump happily jump into the pool. The program runs for two weeks and caters to youngsters, ages 6 to 15, with developmental disabilities.
(Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - PLEASANT PLAINS - Two weeks a year each August, youngsters at the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin (MIV) experience the best of summer.

The dozens of campers living with developmental disabilities (primarily autism) are able to participate in a variety of activities that result in smiles and strong bonds of friendship.

Between basketball, arts and crafts, relay races, contests, and especially the swimming pool and sprayground, each of the 56 campers stayed busy during the two-week camp that concluded last Friday.

Attendees, ages 6 to 15, are mostly from Staten Island, with a handful who commuted from Brooklyn.

The special education program is year-round, with only a two week break in between academic years. That 10-day stretch of Monday-through-Friday fun, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is a cherished experience for campers enjoying the best of the grounds of Mount Loretto in Pleasant Plains.

"It's important for them to have the recreational experience where the limits are looser," said MIV executive director Stephen Rynn. "We try to give them a little more freedom so they're not pressed into a tough schedule. We try to deal with their individual needs as best as we can."

The camp has many facilities, including a gym, a sprayground filled with sprinklers, and a large swimming pool.

"A lot of the focus is on communication and playing together," said Rynn. "Between those activities, it's pretty packed. We go from one thing to the next."

Many counselors are on hand and assigned to specific campers. This leads to a solid relationship between supervisor and youngster.

"It's very rewarding," said camp director Lauren Jacobsen, who also teaches during the school year at the special education program. Ms. Jacobsen and other camp counselors have been involved with Mount Loretto for several years. "That's why we come back and do it."

Another counselor, Ashley Ahern, said a lot of the kids have been coming for years, so each summer, everyone identifies their growth, maturity and improved skills.

Because most attendees don't go to the same school, many campers make new friends each summer, said Ms. Jacobsen.

On some days, the camp will invite outsiders to participate, such as a Zumba instructor or a magician. One day involved zoo animals, like lizards, snakes, and tortoises.

To enable the program to run each August, counselors and others involved, fundraise. Parents of attendees also contribute.

"It's worth it," said Rynn.

Brandon Williams, of Great Kills, a camper, agrees: "I'm having fun."

Another, Billy Irvine, said he loves the sprayground and pool.

One young camper, Christian, climbed out of the pool to express his joy – "I don't like everybody, I love everybody."